Michley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Michley is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in the settlement of Migley in Durham, or in the place named Midgley in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The surname Michley belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxonhabitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Michley family

The surname Michley was first found in West Riding of Yorkshire at Midgley, a hill-top village in Calderdale in the chapelry of Luddenden, parish and union of Halifax, wapentake of Morley. The village dates back to at least the Domesday Book when it was listed as Micleie and literally meant "wood or clearing infested with midges," from the Old English mycg + leah. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4) One branch was later found at Thornton, again in the West Riding of Yorkshire. "Leventhorpe Hall, also in the township, was the seat of a distinguished family; and at Headley is an old mansion in the Elizabethan style, in former times occupied by a branch of the Midgleys." [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.

Early History of the Michley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Michley research.Another 100 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Michley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Michley Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Michley has been spelled many different ways, including Midgley, Midgeley, Midgely, Medgley, Medgely, Medgeley and many more.

Early Notables of the Michley family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Michley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Michley family to the New World and Oceana

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Michleys to arrive in North America: Robert and John Medley, who came to Virginia in 1635; Roger Medley settled in Barbados in 1672; John and Benjamin Midgley settled in New York in 1820.